Rush Limbaugh Reaches Settlement with Prosecutors - Charge Will Be Dismissed In 18 Months

Friday, April 28, 2006 | Roy Black

[kristinn]

Rush Limbaugh's attorney has issued a statement announcing a settlement of the Florida prosecutor's investigation into alleged doctor shopping by Rush Limbaugh.

Details have been read by Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh. Basically, the charge of doctor shopping is dismissed, with some conditions.

In response to media and other inquiries, Roy Black, Rush Limbaugh's attorney, released the following statement today concerning a settlement agreement with the Palm Beach County State Attorney's Office to end the investigation of Mr. Limbaugh:

"I am pleased to announce that the State Attorney's Office and Mr. Limbaugh have reached an agreement whereby a single count charge of doctor shopping filed today by the State Attorney will be dismissed in 18 months. As a primary condition of the dismissal, Mr. Limbaugh must continue to seek treatment from the doctor he has seen for the past two and one half years. This is the same doctor under whose care Mr. Limbaugh has remained free of his addiction without relapse.

"Mr. Limbaugh and I have maintained from the start that there was no doctor shopping, and we continue to hold this position. Accordingly, we filed today with the Court a plea of 'Not Guilty' to the charge filed by the State.

"As part of this agreement, Mr. Limbaugh also has agreed to make a $30,000 payment to the State of Florida to defray the public cost of the investigation. The agreement also provides that he must refrain from violating the law during this 18 months, must pay $30 per month for the cost of "supervision" and comply with other similar provisions of the agreement.

"Mr. Limbaugh had intended to remain in treatment. Thus, we believe the outcome for him personally will be much as if he had fought the charge and won."

The actions taken today are as follows:

-- The State Attorney has filed a single charge of doctor shopping with the Court. The charge is being held in abeyance under the terms of an agreement between the State and Mr. Limbaugh.

-- Mr. Limbaugh has filed a plea of "Not Guilty" with the Court.

The formal agreement between Mr. Limbaugh and the State Attorney will be filed with the Court on Monday. The terms of the agreement are substantively as follows:

-- Mr. Limbaugh will continue in treatment with the doctor he has seen for the past two and one half years.

-- After Mr. Limbaugh completes an additional 18 months of treatment, the State Attorney has agreed to drop the charge.

-- Mr. Limbaugh has agreed to make a $30,000 payment to the State of Florida to defray the public cost of the investigation.

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/060428/nyf133.html?.v=2

[RushCrush]

No offense but for some reason I think Rush would be freaked out if he knew that someone close to him was posting about him on such a public place.

[M. Thatcher]

She's just repeating what was said on tv.

Yes, that's precisely what she's doing. So let's all agree that's just what she's doing. She presents it as if it's on a tablet from Moses. I'm telling you she's full of crap.

[CyberAnt]

The JUDGE said that .. WOW! But .. don't plan on reading that info from any drive-by media person. LOL!!

I have always believed this was manufactured by the Clintons. She is very aware that with Rush on the air - her chances of getting back in the WH are slim and none.

The couple that supposedly ratted on Rush were very close friends with a lawyer named "Coffey" (I believe) - and he was involved with Janet Reno in the Elian fiasco. Hillary's fingerprints were all over this mess.

[AndrewC]

Yeah....MY TAX DOLLARS right?? Those B@stards

Oh, OKay, I'll help out. I promise to buy more orange juice.

[shrinkermd]

Rush had a good attorney. He sized up the outcomes and secured the best possible for his client. Rush is grown up and probably feels badly about "doctor shopping."

Surely, he was in some way selectively prosecuted. The IRS and other federal and state legal system also do this. Creating terror is a "preventative" for the government and what could be a better effort than a prominent conservative broadcaster.

Rush is grown up. He won't wallow in self pity. Life is sometimes unfair. Even if you run with the tigers sometimes you can be laid low by a snake.

[rwa265]

At least you don't have trifocals. They are a real nuisance.

[CyberAnt]

"it" - who was "it" - and who is Dan Abrams. Sorry!

[Soul Seeker]

Well, I'll agree SOMEONE spent more than $30,000.

I'd like to know how much of it came from the constituents of this crooked prosecutor, and how much came from Daschle, Dean, Hillary, The MSM etc...

[M. Thatcher]

he'd never talk to Howlin like that.

Bet me.

[Right_in_Virginia]

But, the sniping here aimed at Rush is an abomination.

Agree. But, it will not succeed.

Rush will be on air Monday (and Tuesday, and Wednesday, and Thursday...etc.)----And, his audience will be tuned in.

And while the "dump on Rushers" may not admit it, they will be grateful and happy with the results.

[rodguy911]

Missed, it. Haven't been able to freep all week,been on the road. 3,400 miles this week, I am beat.

[Purrcival]

Dan Abrams - legal analyst on PMSNBC...

[Fawn]

WHY? What's not to know about Rushbo? What could she possibly divulge that we couldn't find out anyway? I wonder if he still has his cat though....I haven't heard him talking about P Diddy Punkin in a while....has anyone heard anything?

[CyberAnt]

Never watch them - ever!

[StarFan]

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., April 28 /PRNewswire/ -- A spokesman for Rush Limbaugh said some news reports that state Mr. Limbaugh was arrested are inaccurate.

Interesting. While all reported he was arrested, Shep Smith took it one step further saying there was a warrant for his arrest issued last night (I believe) but he turned himself in.

[OldFriend]

At least one Vioxx patient would be alive if the doctor had used some common sense. The man was about 50 lbs. overweight and complaining about back aching. The doctor, his son in law, prescribed 30 Vioxx, WITHOUT examining the man. Just called in the RX. The man died of a heart attack.

There were other avenues to be explored before using a powerful drug for pain.

Merck won that case but others will cost Merck big time.

Glad your back is better. My guess is that there is no worse pain.

[Purrcival]

...which is why you don't know who Dan Abrams is! :-D

I don't watch them that much, either, but I do surf by once in awhile to see who's on there and what kind of cockamamie blather they're spouting. Call it "opposition research", I guess.

[HawaiianGecko]

What consequences? "Not guilty" means "not guilty".
 

You need to look up what an Alford Pleading is. Not guilty might mean not guilty in your mind, but it doesn't necessarily mean that in court. You don't get the privilege of paying $30,000, be told by a judge that you have to endure treatment for drug dependence and keep your nose clean for 18 months if you are not guilty.

Your right, not guilty means not guilty if the court says so, not because Rush says so. If the court said he was not guilty the charges would have been dismissed today, not 18 months from today.

Now all that said, Rush got a bum rap out of all this for the last year. But what does it matter? It's not like he has to worry about filling out a job application in the future. He's not going to lose any listeners and he's not going to change his philosophy of bashing the daylights out of the liberals in this country.  In short, the only thing liberals get out of this today is a couple of days slapping each other on the back.  BIG  DEAL!